Red Tide Blues

The Red Tide has been in full force for the last 5 days!  Most of the SCAT crew has gotten sick from the rust colored water.  But, somehow I've avoided it.  Maybe because I've been downing handfuls of vitamins, or maybe cuz I wear earplugs.  I'd like to say it's because I haven't ingested any water, but I have.  I would paddle out thinking, "Don't drink any water.  Don't drink any water.  Don't Drink any water."  Then I'd get hit in the face by a wave and,  "gulp!"  I'd swallow a mouthful!  Blagh!

The rest of the crew is hanging in the parking lot bemoaning the chocolate colored peaks.  It does look really gross, but the waves finally got fun after last weeks lull...  So, I'm showering up with antibacterial soap and, well, the vitamins, like I said.  Plus, I hafta believe I have built up some sort immunity after surfing in this stuff over the years.

We were talking about the murky water and nobody seemed to know the cause.  I mean, what is red tide?  I thought about it and realized I really don't know.  It seems like it happens late summer, early fall every year.  I always thought it was caused by warm water killing plankton.  So, red tide is just a bunch of dead plankton floating around?  Hmmm...

I did some research and found that I was partially right, well, not really.  Actually, it's is microscopic plant-like organism called phytoplankton (colored algae).  The science nerds like to call it "harmful algae blooms" cuz it's not really related to tides and not necessarily red (The algae comes in a range of colors; sometimes it's pink!).

The cause of red tide varies.  Sometimes, it's just an upwelling caused by seasonal currents.  Water pollution and increased water temps are some of the other reasons.  And if you eat oysters or shellfish that have been contaminated by red tide toxins, you just got poisoned.  If it's a really severe red tide, they hafta shut down oyster farms.

The best part about red tide is at night.  The phytoplankton makes the water glow in the dark.  Every time a wave crashes the white wash is florescent!  It's beautiful.  Jumping around in the water disrupts the phytoplankton and causes it to flash neon blue.

The worst part is the smell, ugh!!  The stench is like stinky dead fish.

Well, there you have all the red tide info.  If your determined to surf the muddied waters; take your vitamins, keep you ears plugged, and don't drink the water!!

Teri

P.S.  I almost forgot to warn you about the man-eating dragon.  He was hovering around looking for his next victim.  Beware!!